Vance Hartke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vance Hartke
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Hartke in 1958
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| United States Senator from Indiana |
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| In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1977 |
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| Preceded by | William E. Jenner |
| Succeeded by | Richard Lugar |
| Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs | |
| In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977 |
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| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Alan Cranston |
| Mayor of Evansville, Indiana | |
| In office 1956–1958 |
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| Preceded by | Henry O. Roberts |
| Succeeded by | J. William Davidson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rupert Vance Hartke
May 31, 1919 Stendal, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | July 27, 2003 (aged 84) Fairfax, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Martha Hartke |
| Children | 7 |
| Alma mater | Evansville University Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy United States Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Rupert Vance Hartke (May 31, 1919 – July 27, 2003) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Hartke served as a U.S. Senator for Indiana from 1959 to 1977.
Before becoming a senator, he was the mayor of Evansville, Indiana. In the Senate, he supported programs like the Great Society. He also became a strong opponent of the Vietnam War. Hartke ran for president in 1972 but later stopped his campaign. He left the Senate after losing his re-election bid in 1976 to Richard Lugar.
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Early Life and Education
Vance Hartke was born on May 31, 1919. His hometown was Stendal, Indiana. His mother, Ida Mary Egbert, was an organist. His father, Hugo Leonard Hartke, was a teacher. Vance went to public schools in Stendal.
He graduated from Evansville College in 1940. This school is now known as the University of Evansville. From 1942 to 1946, Hartke served in the military. He was in both the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard. He started as a seaman and rose to the rank of lieutenant. After his military service, Hartke studied law. He graduated from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 1948.
Starting His Political Career
After finishing law school, Hartke became a lawyer in 1948. He started his law practice in Evansville. He also worked as a deputy prosecutor for Vanderburgh County from 1950 to 1951.
In 1956, he became the Mayor of Evansville. He served as mayor until 1958. During his time as mayor, he helped to integrate the city's swimming pools. This meant that people of all races could swim together. In 1958, he was elected to the United States Senate. He was re-elected in 1964 and 1970, serving until 1977.
Serving in the Senate
In the Senate, Vance Hartke was known for two main things. He strongly opposed the Vietnam War. He also led the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. His opposition to the Vietnam War caused some disagreements with President Lyndon Johnson.
Hartke was elected to the Senate in 1958 when he was 39 years old. He beat the Republican Governor of Indiana, Harold Handley. He was known as a hard-working Democrat. He had a good relationship with the Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Johnson. In his first term, Hartke worked on important committees. He supported programs like Medicare and Medicaid. He also backed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Hartke won re-election in 1964. He was one of the few Indiana Democrats to win a second Senate term. During his second term, he helped create student loan programs. He also worked on new benefits for veterans. He played a key role in creating Amtrak, a national passenger rail service.
After his sister died in a car crash, Hartke worked to improve car safety. He used his position to push for laws. These laws made carmakers include seat belts and other safety features in cars. He also helped start the International Executive Service Corps. This group sent retired U.S. business people to help small businesses in other countries.
Hartke was praised for helping pass laws that created or supported student loan programs. He also helped with veterans' benefits and the Head Start Program. He worked to create the George Washington Peace Academy. This idea later helped lead to the creation of the U.S. Institute of Peace. He also helped make kidney dialysis more widely available. This medical treatment has saved many lives.
His views on the Vietnam War were not popular in Indiana. In 1970, he won a very close election. He beat Republican Congressman Richard L. Roudebush by a small number of votes. In 1972, Hartke tried to become the Democratic candidate for president. He competed against other senators like Edmund Muskie and George McGovern. He did not win the nomination. Four years later, in 1976, he lost his re-election campaign. Indianapolis Mayor Richard Lugar defeated him.
Hartke wrote three books. These included The American Crisis in Vietnam and You and Your Senator. He also co-authored Inside the New Frontier with John M. Redding.
Personal Life and Legacy
Vance Hartke and his wife, Martha, had seven children. Their daughter, Anita Hartke, ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008. She ran for Virginia's 7th congressional district. She lost to the Republican candidate, Eric Cantor.
Vance Hartke passed away on July 27, 2003, in Fairfax, Virginia. He was 84 years old. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
In 2009, the JFK Club of Vanderburgh County honored Senator Vance Hartke. They gave him the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Posthumous Award. This award recognized his work for social justice and equality.
Images for kids
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Hartke in 1958
